InviteDrop vs PicMonkey
Which invitation app is the better choice in 2026? An honest, side-by-side comparison.
PicMonkey (now part of Shutterstock) is a photo-editing and graphic-design tool that includes invitation templates, and a subscription is required for most of its features and template exports. Like Canva or Adobe Express it produces an image: you still have to work out how to send it, track the RSVPs and manage the guest list yourself.
Summary
InviteDrop and PicMonkey are both digital invitation tools, but they differ on free to use: InviteDrop offers Free to start — 5 free invites per event, then a flat one-time Event Pass (from $15.99), while PicMonkey offers Subscription required. InviteDrop is free to start with an animated envelope on every template; PicMonkey describes photo editing alongside graphic design.
Upfront pricing — no coins, no credits, no maths
You see the full price before you start. InviteDrop is free for your first 5 invites on every event. After that it is one flat, one-time Event Pass for the whole guest list — not a virtual currency you buy in packs, and not a subscription that renews.
- $15.99 · Up to 25 invites
- $29.99 · Up to 50 invites
- $44.99 · Up to 100 invites
- $74.99 · Unlimited invites
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | InviteDrop | PicMonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Free to use | Free to start — 5 free invites per event, then a flat one-time Event Pass (from $15.99) | Subscription required |
| Built-in RSVP tracking | Real-time RSVP tracking with yes/no/maybe + guest count | Not an invitation service, so replies are collected outside it |
| Built-in guest list management | Yes | Not described by its maker as including guest list management |
| Built-in SMS/email send flow | Send by SMS or email — guests open in any browser, no app | Not described by its maker as sending to a guest list |
| Animated envelope | Cinematic animated envelope on every invite | Not described by its maker as offering an animated envelope |
| Photo editing depth | Basic image controls | A photo editor at its core |
| General-purpose design tool | Invitation-focused | Yes |
What PicMonkey does well
- Photo editing alongside graphic design
- A template library that includes invitation designs
- Typography and layering controls
- Useful if you already use it for other design work
Where PicMonkey falls short
- Subscription required for most features and template exports
- A design tool rather than an invitation service: the guest list, the sending and the replies all happen outside it
- Not described by its maker as offering an animated envelope
- You handle the send flow yourself — email, text, share manually
The verdict
PicMonkey is a reasonable pick if you want a photo-forward design tool and are happy to handle RSVPs and sending separately — and pay a subscription. For a free-to-start, end-to-end invitation tool with animated envelopes and real-time RSVPs, InviteDrop is the better fit.
Browse free InviteDrop templatesInviteDrop vs PicMonkey: frequently asked questions
Is InviteDrop a good PicMonkey alternative?
PicMonkey is a reasonable pick if you want a photo-forward design tool and are happy to handle RSVPs and sending separately — and pay a subscription. For a free-to-start, end-to-end invitation tool with animated envelopes and real-time RSVPs, InviteDrop is the better fit.
Is InviteDrop free?
InviteDrop is free to start — every template, animated envelopes, and real-time RSVP tracking, with no ads, no coins, and no watermarks.
What is the main difference between InviteDrop and PicMonkey?
The biggest difference is free to use. With InviteDrop: Free to start — 5 free invites per event, then a flat one-time Event Pass (from $15.99). With PicMonkey: Subscription required. Every InviteDrop template also includes a cinematic animated envelope.
What is PicMonkey best at?
PicMonkey's own pages describe: Photo editing alongside graphic design; A template library that includes invitation designs; Typography and layering controls; Useful if you already use it for other design work. Where InviteDrop differs is free to use: InviteDrop offers Free to start — 5 free invites per event, then a flat one-time Event Pass (from $15.99), while PicMonkey offers Subscription required.